This Earl Grey Tea Loaf Cake Recipe with Lemon Glaze is like a warm hug in loaf cake form! It’s infused with a delicate tea flavor that pairs perfectly with the pop of lemon in the glaze! It’s the perfect loaf cake to make for Sunday morning to enjoy while drinking your morning caffeine and listening to the birds chirp in the background! It’s the perfect springtime treat!

Earl Grey Tea Loaf Cake on parchment paper.

Earl Grey Tea Loaf Cake sliced on parchment paper.

Why You’ll Love…

If you love starting your day with a warm cup of tea, you are going to love this Earl Grey Tea Loaf Cake! It’s everything you love about a cup of tea, but in delicious, soft cake form! I love making loaf cakes to enjoy for breakfast throughout the week, a snack in the middle of a day, or for something sweet after dinner! To serve, I like to take a small slice and warm it for a few seconds in the microwave! It’s the perfect sweet treat to enjoy with a cup of tea! This loaf cake has a combination of butter and oil which gives off the perfect texture that reminds me of a pound cake but without the hassle of making a pound cake!

Types of Tea

For this recipe, I used Earl Grey tea bags to infuse the milk with the perfect Earl Grey flavor!

I recommend using whichever tea you would typically have at your house whether that’s tea bags or loose leaf tea!

If you do use loose leaf tea, you may not have to use as much since the flavor can be more powerful than tea bags! Be sure to to drain the loose Earl Grey tea from the milk mixture before adding to the batter!

If you are using the tea bags, be sure to squeeze out any extra liquid from the tea bags!

Earl Grey Tea Loaf Cake with a glass of milk.

Additions and Substitutions:

I love the combination of the sweet tea flavor with the pop of bright lemon zest! However, I have a few ideas to switch up these flavor combinations!

Lemon Glaze: I like the extra addition of the lemon glaze, but you could also do a vanilla glaze, or add some tea to the glaze as well to really infuse the loaf cake with all the Earl Grey flavor!

Different Tea Flavors: Another great way to switch up the flavor of this loaf cake would be to use different flavor teas! Pick whatever tea flavor is your favorite, from a simple black tea or a spicy chai! A chai loaf cake would be the perfect treat for a chilly fall morning!

Add Some Crunch: A great way to add a little extra *something something* to this cake would be to add a little bit of crunch to this loaf cake! From a streusel topping to a few crushed nuts to the top would be so delicious! You can add some crushed pecans to the top mixed with a little bit of cinnamon to add the perfect crunch!

If you like the idea of the streusel topping, be sure to check out my Cinnamon Sugar Vanilla Loaf Cake here!

Equipment Needed:

Loaf Pan – A standard loaf pan is crucial to this recipe! That’s whats going to give this loaf the perfect slices after baking! If you don’t have one, I have my favorite loaf pan linked below!

Small Saucepan – I like to use a small saucepan to help brew the tea in the milk! This helps infuse the cake with the delicate tea flavor!

Glass Bowls – This recipe requires the dry ingredients to be measured in a separate bowl so you can alternate the dry ingredients with the milk mixture! I like to have a set of glass bowls for baking that are dishwasher safe! Makes clean up a breeze!

Electric Mixer – I prefer to use an electric hand mixer for this recipe, but you can use a stand mixer with the paddle attachment!

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Ingredient List:

Butter, room temperature
Flavorless Oil – This can be vegetable oil, canola oil, coconut oil, etc.
Lemons
Sugar
Powdered Sugar – Also known as confectioners sugar or icing sugar, if you’re trying to find it in the sugar aisle!
Eggs
Vanilla Extract
Milk
Yogurt – I prefer to use Greek Yogurt
All Purpose Flour
Baking Powder
Tea Bags

See Recipe Card for Full Details

Step by Step Instructions:

Step 1. In a saucepan, step milk and tea bags together.

Step 2. In a large bowl, mix together lemon zest and sugar, before mixing in the butter. Then mix in eggs, oil, and vanilla extract.

Step 3: In a separate bowl, mix together flour and baking powder. Add half of the flour mixture to the wet ingredients.

Step 4. Then add in milk and yogurt. Mix together before adding to a prepared loaf pan.

Storage Instructions:

I like to wrap this loaf with tin foil to help prevent the loaf cake from drying out! You can also store the slices in an airtight container as well!

If you want to freeze the loaf, let the loaf cool completely, before wrapping in plastic wrap and then foil to prevent any freezer burning! When you’re ready to enjoy, let it thaw out at room temperature for about an hour and then heat up before glazing!

Helpful Tips and Tricks

I like to spray my loaf pan with nonstick spray and then add a layer of parchment paper! This helps prevent the loaf pan from sticking!

I recommend using a cake tester or a butter knife to stick in the center of the cake to make sure it’s fully cooked through! There should be a few crumbs on the knife, but no batter! Then let the loaf cake fully cool before adding the glaze to the top!

To decorate this loaf cake, you can add some slices of lemon, a few pinches of edible flowers, or earl grey tea leaves!

I hope this Earl Grey Loaf Cake fills you with all the warmth of a cup of Earl Grey but in a delicious and moist cake form! It’s a quick and easy loaf cake that’s perfect for brunch parties, or enjoying for breakfast throughout the week!

Cheers!

-Holly Michelle

Prep Time:10

Cook Time:45

Total Time:55

Ingredients

6 tablespoons Butter room temperature
2 tablespoons Oil
1 Lemon zested
3/4 cups Sugar
2 Eggs
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1/2 cup Milk
1/2 cup Yogurt
2 cups Flour
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
2 Earl Grey Tea Bags

Lemon Glaze:

2 Lemons zested
2 tablespoon Lemon Juice
1 cup Powdered Sugar

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a small saucepan over medium low heat, add in the milk and let simmer slightly. Once simmering, remove from heat and add tea bags. Let brew for about 5 minutes. Squeeze out remaining milk from tea bags and let cool.
1/2 cup Milk, 2 Earl Grey Tea Bags
In a bowl, add in sugar and lemon zest. Massage together.
1 Lemon zested, 3/4 cups Sugar
Then add in butter and mix until smooth and creamy.
6 tablespoons Butter room temperature
Add in eggs, oil, and vanilla extract. Mix everything together.
2 tablespoons Oil, 2 Eggs, 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
In a separate bowl, mix together flour and baking powder
2 cups Flour, 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
In a measuring glass, mix together milk and yogurt.
1/2 cup Milk, 1/2 cup Yogurt
Into the butter mixture, pour in half of the flour mixture. Stir until the flour is just combined.
Then pour in the milk mixture, and mix together.
After the milk mixture is fully mixed in, add in the remaining flour. Stir everything together, gently.
Pour the batter into a lined loaf pan, smoothing out the top.
Bake for 40-50 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Let cool slightly and make the glaze!